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Neil Jones

My 1-2-3-4

Winners: Spain. I find it a bit odd that they're not being tipped heavily this summer. For me, they have the best goalkeeper, the best central defensive pairing and the best, most creative midfield.

A lack of strikers might hinder them, though Morata and Aduriz are both more than decent. And they will get chances from the likes of Iniesta, Fabregas, Thiago and Silva.

Spain were terrible at the World Cup, granted, but they're the holders of this competition and I think they'll do pretty well again.

Runners-up: Germany. A repeat of the 2008 final, I reckon. Germany are World Champions, and look a strong, strong outfit. I like the look of their squad, but I think they've lost a bit of the killer instinct they had two years ago.

Neil Jones reckons it could be worth keeping an eye on Thiago Alcantara

It'd be a good final if these two meet, but I think the Spaniards might just shade it.

Semi-finalists: France and Portugal. Germany look nailed on to meet France in the semis, which would be quite an occasion.

I'd fancy Joachim Low's side to ruin that party. As for Portugal, they've got an easy group, some good young players, and Cristiano Ronaldo.

I can see him getting a few goals in the group, and that spurring him on in the knockout stages. If he fires, they'll win.

How will England do?

They'll get out of the group. But if they have to face any of Spain, Germany, France, Portugal, Italy or Belgium, then they'll lose. So quarter-finals at best, I reckon.

Romelu Lukaku, currently of Belgium and Everton

One to watch

I've done some extensive scouting for this one, and I've come up with all the same names. Dele Alli could excite, so could Kingsley Coman or Leroy Sane.

Quality youngsters. But I'm thinking about a player who might just grab the tournament by the scruff of the neck. And I'm tipping Thiago Alcantara of Spain. He's said to be the successor to Xavi, so let's see if he can take that mantle.

Local one to watch

Romelu Lukaku. He'll start the tournament as number nine for one of the fancied nations, so I'm tipping Rom to shine in France. He should have good service from Hazard, De Bruyne and the likes, and he should have a point to prove too. How fast can you say 'shop window'?

Ian Doyle

My 1-2-3-4

Those of us who are old will just about remember the last time France held the European Championships back in 1984.

Back in the days when the finals involved just eight teams and the onus was on quality (hence England being nowhere to be seen), John Motson had his most John Motson moment along the way as a Michel Platini-led host side thrilled everybody on the road to the final before edging beyond a solid Spain side.

And I anticipate much the same this time around, with a similar outcome in the final. Allez Les Bleus and all that.

As for the semi-finalists, Germany won't make it. They'll be dumped by a Belgium team who will flirt with glory but, as ever, always be the bridesmaid. So too England, who will liven the country before doing what they do best and securing an heroic failure.

How will England do?

Roy Hodgson's men are doing well to slip under the radar in the build-up to the tournament.

With not many defenders, they are going to have to go for goals, which will see them out of a pretty straightforward group and past the Czech Republic in the second round.

Austria's David Alaba

Revenge over Portugal awaits in the quarter-finals, but Spain will make them paella for their iffy defending.

Then Hodgson will be knighted and Liverpool fans will go into absolute meltdown.

One to watch

I reckon Austria could cause a bit of a stir, certainly more so than when they helped host the tournament in 2008 when, frankly, they were rubbish.

A quarter-final berth is not beyond them, and that'll largely be due to the efforts of David Alaba. He plays at left-back for club side Bayern Munich yet turns out for Austria in central midfield. In truth, though, he could play anywhere. He's rather good.

Local one to watch

Given Liverpool have 12 players going to the Euros, the likelihood is one of their players will impress.

So, in trademark contrariness, I'm going for an Everton player. Well, an Everton player at the time of writing.

Having tipped Belgium to go far, someone is going to have to score the goals for them. And who better than Romelu Lukaku?

Kristian Walsh

My 1-2-3-4

Winner: France. Runners-up: Croatia. Semi-finalists: Germany and Turkey. France's starting 11 is superb, and they have plenty in reserve too. The defence is a little bit of a worry but the midfield and attack is enough to be anybody.

They beat Germany in the semis, as revenge for their World Cup 2014 elimination. I'll get stick for this, because everyone in the office is a bully, but I fancy Croatia to get to the final.

Their midfield is one of the best in the tournament, Perisic and Mandzukic have goals in them, and if they win their group - which I fancy them to - they have a nice enough path to the final.

Turkey will be the surprise of the whole tournament, with players like Calhanoglu, Turan, Yilmaz, Inan and Sahin more than a match for most.

Turkey's Hakan Calhanoglu... will he be a hit?

How will England do

I think they could struggle to win their group, in all honesty. Slovakia are a dark horse for me, while Wales will be fired up for their game.

England are often slow to start in tournaments, too - so could be caught cold against Russia. They will qualify, though. So in all likelihood, they'll get through to the quarters, and go out to the first really good team they face.

One to watch

Hakan Calhanoglu. The Turkish playmaker has a brilliant set-piece delivery on him and has been earning rave reviews in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen.

I am looking forward to seeing how he does for the dark horses. Other players to keep an eye on: Emil Forsberg and Nolito. Oh, and Will Grigg. He's on fire, apparently.

'It's okay Martin, Kristian Walsh says you'll do well in France'

Local one to watch

Martin Skrtel. We know he's very likely to depart Liverpool, but he'll enhance his reputation wearing the captain's armband for Slovakia. I would say Divock Origi, but I'm not sure he'll start, sadly.

Joe Rimmer

My 1-2-3-4

Winners: France. Runners-up: Spain. Semi-finalists: Germany and Portugal. It's hard to look past France at home. They're in good form right now and have even been afforded the luxury of leaving out some big names, such as Alexandre Lacazette, because of how strong their squad is.

It's been an emotional time in France, but I think the country will unite to get behind the national team this summer and drive them on to a memorable victory.

Despite a terrible World Cup two years ago, Spain are still a classy outfit. I expect them to do well this summer - but they won't have the fight to stop France if the two sides should meet.

Dimitri Payet could cash in for the host country

World Champions Germany will have another great tournament, I'm sure, but will come unstuck when they play one of the top two or three teams. I'd originally fancied Belgium to do well, but I don't think they are mature enough if they meet Germany in the quarters, which seems likely.

So therefore I'd go for Portugal. They are the greatest outfit but with a clear path to the semis and Ronaldo in the team then I expect them to do well.

How will England do?

They will make it through their group with one win and a couple of below-par performances, and then fall whenever they meet somebody half decent in the last eight. As is their way.

One to watch

Once again, I'm tipping France to make an impact. And I expect the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Anthony Martial and Paul Pogba to star in this tournament.

Joes stick together... Rimmer is backing Allen to be a hit in France

But I fancy Dimitri Payet to really stand out. The West Ham man has been in outstanding form for club and country, and I believe he can take that into the Euros.

Nobody is more deadly from set-pieces right now and Payet can be the creative force behind France's bid to secure victory in front of the home fans.

Local one to watch

I expect Wales to impress this summer - even if they do ultimately struggle to progress far in the tournament.

And I expect Joe Allen to be a big part of what they do.The Liverpool midfielder is a quietly effective player, and he can help make Wales tick. Elsewhere, you have to expect Belgium duo Romelu Lukaku and Divock Origi to do well.

Chris Beesley

My 1-2-3-4

With 16 teams coming out of the groups in a 24-team tournament there are so many permutations over who might end up playing who. Putting in my individual scoreline predictions I had Wales making it to the second round with just two points!

When it got to the business end of the tournament though, the usual suspects were all there.

I'll go for Germany to beat Spain in the final with France and Italy the other semi-finalists. I know Germany have been a bit hit and miss of late but they always seem to get it right in tournaments and are probably still the strongest team out there.

I think the outcome of their potential semi-final showdown with hosts France, who look like having a relatively straightforward passage to the last four, could prove key.

Winners of the last two Euros, Spain will be looking to put their World Cup woes from Brazil behind them when as holders they were the first team to be eliminated and this competition might be one last hurrah for those remaining in their golden generation.

How will England do?

I've got them drawing with Russia in their opener before beating Wales and Slovakia to top their group. They'll then edge out Croatia in the second round before a delicately-poised quarter-final clash with Italy. There won't be much in it but I'll go with history and tip Roy Hodgson's men to bow out at this stage, quite probably on penalties again.

Julian Weigl - could he emerge as a star for Germany over the next month?

One to watch

Julian Weigl (Germany). A rapidly rising star who has been said to have "taken a taxi into the limelight". The Guardian's glorious pen pictures for the Euros reveal that the midfielder is a qualified retail salesman who did some of his qualification in Borussia Dortmund's club shop.

"I nearly sold my own shirt," he quipped.

Local one(s) to watch

It's just a hunch but I'm going to go for the two right-backs Seamus Coleman of Everton and Ireland plus Nathaniel Clyne of Liverpool and England.

Coleman endured a disappointing season by his own high standards - along with most of the Blues defence but I can see his energetic displays being one of the bright spots for Martin O'Neill's men.

Clyne of course has a battle on his hands just getting into Roy Hodgson's startling line-up with Tottenham's Kyle Walker seeing to be the coach's first choice of late but there's a strong case to say he deserves to get the nod and if he does then he won't let anyone down.

Overall

Giving four points to the winners, three to the runners-up and one each for the semi-finalists, our leading aggregated totals are France 14, Spain 13, Germany 9 and Croatia 3.

In summary, back France to win. But don't be afraid to have an each-way bet on Spain or Germany.